It will be supper time soon. I can't wait -- I'm hungry. The lads are talking quietly among themselves, so I figure its a good time to catch up in my journal. I heard the royality came back to school finally; I suppose even Princes and Princess have to learn something. Royality! Ha! Royal pain-in-the-arse's if you ask me. Word has it something big went down with the Avaloons today at tea-time, and I don't mean like what Paul would think. If he even knows what that American slang term means.

Wow -- Paul can be loud.

The lads and I were having a good morning; all homework done and essays written and stuff like that. Then the "attack" began. We were excited, until Jack told us he had heard it was just a drill. What bollocks! After that, we weren't too concerned with it, but Paul suddenly appeared and started preaching and hauling us all over. It seemed that every step of the way he spouted on and on about "defence". I mean, come on -- it was a silly drill. He takes stuff way to seriously; although that older girl, Miss MacAlister, was giving out demerits like she was going to get a prize for it or something.

What a day this is turning out to be.

Wow. People are leaving the school in droves, and not all of them willingly. The Upperclassmen I saw beat yesterday all went home today. I bet their parents will not "spare the rod" when they get home. Paul still won't tell me what it was all about -- he says I shouldn't concern myself with it. He says if I continue to follow the rules and be a Good Boy then I won't have to worry about it. Bah!

Mr Loveday Mr Pendry Bill left today too. He wasn't feeling well and his guardian came to take him to the hospital. I hope he gets better -- he was kind of interesting to talk to, at times. Jack and Dai thought so, until he started talking about his traitor dad all the time. I'm sure he would have had something fun to say about the Drill we had to go through today.

Then again, it is War we're talking about here, and you can never be too prepared for it to rear it's ugly head. Even this far from London Londinium.

Wow! I watched two Upperclassmen get beat tonight, and it was harsh! I mean, they took it well enough, I suppose -- better than I would have. Even Father, in one of his religion-spouting moments, never seemed to put as much energy into a beating like that Head Inquisitor did.

Paul didn't look pleased. Then again, more then a few other students didn't either. But there were some who's eyes gleamed, like they were enjoying the moment. I made a note of those kids -- made a note to stay away from them.

When I asked Paul, in a hushed voice, (I didn't want to attract the Big Guy's attention) about it all he would say was "Lesson learned. They will not do that again." in a cold, unamused voice. Maybe later I can find out the full story of what "that" was, so I can make sure not to do anything like it ever!

This morning at breakfast I saw a real Demon! It was horrible! That Inquisitor guy and a lot of Upperclassmen helped banish it. Even Paul got up there and waved his wand about while chanting Latin prayers at it.

He was really spot on -- I guess he does know a thing or two about that kind of stuff. I might go up to his room later and talk with him some. I suppose I've been too hard on him lately; after all, he is just looking out for us, really.

What a git Paul is being. He keeps hovering close to me and the lads, trying to hear anything we might be talking about. He says he is trying to keep needless rumor mongering from happening, but for Heavens sake we're only playing cards! I heard from some of the other firsties he's being a pain in the arse all over the dorms. Figures. He's more like Father then he'll ever let on or even understand.

Well, today has been exciting as well as enjoyable. Not a bad day for a weekend, I must say. Jack, Dai and I decided to spend the weekend exploring various parts of the castle that we haven't seen. You know, one can wander around in this place forever and not go the same place twice. Fascinating.

And the best part of it was the prefects were all called away for some classified hush-hush thing this evening. Well, most of them were -- my pain-in-the-arse brother, naturally, stayed behind to play nursemaid to all of us. Or at least, those of us he could catch. If I was a prefect, or one of the Super-Secret Squad, I wouldn't want him tagging along either. I wonder what it was they all went after, anyhow?

Nonetheless, the guys and I went everywhere, occasionally with Paul's cries echoing in our ears. We saw some pretty amazing stuff -- a room full of old mortal mundane junk that I doubt I would have come across out in the real world, another room with a floating garden in it, and a room where the books flew about the room. When curfew came about, Jack suggested we play hide-and-seek a bit longer, just to ruffle Paul's feathers. Unfortunately, he caught us and gave us 5 demerits each!! Even me, his own brother. Bah! No sense of humor git.

I woke early this morning, thanks to one of my dreams becoming a little too realistic for my own good. I mean, dreaming about being a super spy is all right, right up until the enemy starts shooting at you. That's when the reality of the situation ruins the dream. But I bet it would make for a good movie scene . . .

( Anyhow, I got to thinking on death )

I just heard in the common room something about Paul spending the night with some bird named Audrey Erskine. I think she's an upperclassman, but I don't understand why anyone would think Paul would spend the night with her. Paul is madly in love with Mary Walsh.

I need to talk to Paul, tonight, before curfew.

I grow tired of figuring out different languages to title my posts with. After all, the sun never sets on England, so I might as well stick with English. Besides, it's easier to write with what I was born with than to search out the proper words in a new tongue.

Paul has been acting like a bloody fool, walking around with a goofy smile on his face. For all the world he looks like he's using drugs. Which I highly doubt, but still . . . some of the other firsties told me drugs, especially hashish, is available around here if you know who to talk to.

I heard he had a strange conversation with that girl Miss Walsh this morning... whatever he was about, I think he only managed to embarrass himself. I do know he attracted the attention of a constable. How exciting!

Seeing how Portugal is so close to Spain, you'd think their languages would be more similar. But Portuguese is more fluid, I think.

Paul is losing his mind about his duel. He just left here a bit ago after I told him to not worry about it -- he would do fine! After all, he's a 5th year; surely he knows a lot of charms and curses and stuff to use. Besides, he should be used to being beaten; father has laid the strap to him often enough for some religious offence.

I heard the older brother of the girl who died in the lake is now in the infirmary himself, having slipped over into insanity. I can't say I blame him; I'd probably lose it too if I lost Paul.

I found a book in the library about Russian Wizards. It had a listing of dates in the back, and from it I got the Russian version of today. It's quite an interesting language, I think.

News came today about another student being found dead here. This place is starting to sound like it would make a good place to film a horror movie. Paul says the castle isn't safe, per-se, but that I should be alright if I don't go somewhere stupid or out of bounds. He didn't tell me what to do if something other comes looking for me. I've learned some useful charms already, so maybe I'll levitate anything if it tries to grab me.

I find it interesting that the date in German is the same as in English. How odd, for during this time of strife that something we do in English be so similar to the Jerries.

Seems word in the hallways is that Paul challenged someone to a duel. Now that will be interesting -- he used to tell me about duels here at school, but he said he didn't engage in them. I wonder why, if magic can be used to fight, we don't have some magical troops to fight the Jerries? I bet that would make their eyes widen!

I hope Paul wins the duel.

Ahh, good ole English. I figured I should use it in a title at some point, what with us dwelling in Scotland and all that.

( I had a good first weekend today. )

I like Latin -- it's such a concise language. No real guessing at the words. Hebrew is ok too, but the words have so many levels of meaning.

This afternoon at dinner some older kid got a letter that yelled at him! It was amazingly loud, like the voice of God himself. Paul looked kind of sad for the other kid, and I thought for a moment he was going to go and talk to him, but then he sat back down.

Dinner was great. All the meals here are -- I don't know how they get so much food in a castle this size. I guess it must be by magic, which makes sense I suppose considering this is a School for that.

Classes aren't so bad. I thought they would be harder then they are, but I'm finding them to be all right. The language classes are the easiest 'cause I know so many of them. Mum says I'm a natural linguist, whatever that means. Still, some of the kids are having trouble. I offered to help some of them. I hope that was ok.

Tonight's title brought to you courtesy of the French. It's such a polite language, and very flowery. I think I'd like to do a movie totally in French.

I finally got a chance to talk to Paul today, and he smacked me! He smacked me! All because I admitted my part in the fight led by Oldman and that cracker Marvell. I don't understand why -- after all, we were just messing with a tosser kid, and one in Avalon to boot! He said he did it for my own good, that the kid's family were nuts and could possibly take out vengeance on me for touching their lil girl lil boy, but he didn't have to drag me to the kid and make me apologise to him in front of everyone!

I'm very unhappy here. I miss Mum, and my room. I had privacy there, and here it's full of jabbering kids who won't go to sleep. Plus, Paul always told me Caerleone was in a tall tower, with a great view. Instead, I find we're stuck down below next to the overly energetic, sing-a-long happy Saint Hilda's Saints! What a cleanliness crew! They're worse than Mum about telling people to pick their stuff up.

Tonight I titled it in Spanish. Not as hard a language as Greek. Today was quite the whirlwind of excitement. Meeting the teachers in class, meeting all the other new kids firsties, finding my way around, and the food! OH my gosh, the food! Dinner and supper here are nothing like they were at home -- I suppose, with magic, the arcane world doesn't need to ration.

I didn't get to talk to Paul today, other than passing him in the hallways between classes. Maybe tomorrow?